The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

“Sanjaya continued, After Satyaki had said these
words, none amongst the Pandavas and the Kauravas,
O king, said anything. On the other hand, they
mentally applauded Bhurisravas. No one there applauded
the slaughter of Somadatta’s illustrious son
who resembled an ascetic living in the woods, or one
sanctified with mantras in a great sacrifice, and who
had given away thousands of gold coins. The head
of that hero, graced with beautiful blue locks and
eyes, red as those of pigeons, looked like the head
of a horse cut off in a Horse-sacrifice and placed
on the sacrificial altar.[172] Sanctified by his prowess
and the death he obtained at the edge of the weapon,
the boon-giving Bhurisravas, worthy of every boon,
casting off his body in great battle, repaired to regions
on high, filling the welkin with his high virtues.’”

SECTION CXLIII

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Unvanquished by
Drona, and Radha’s son and Vikarna and Kritavarman,
how could the heroic Satyaki, never before checked
in battle, having after his promise to Yudhishthira
crossed the ocean of the Kaurava troops, being humiliated
by the Kuru warrior Bhurisravas and forcibly thrown
on the ground?’

“Sanjaya said, ’Hear, O king, about the
origin, in the past times, of Sini’s grandson,
and of how Bhurisravas also came to be descended.
This will clear thy doubts. Atri had for son
Soma. Soma’s son was called Vudha.
Vudha had one son, of the splendour of the great Indra,
called Pururavas. Pururavas had a son called
Ayus. Ayus had for his son Nahusha. Nahusha
had for his son Yayati who was a royal sage equal to
a celestial. Yayati had by Devayani Yadu for
his eldest son. In Yadu’s race was born
a son of the name of Devamidha of Yadu’s race
had a son named Sura, applauded in the three worlds.
Sura had for his son that foremost of men, viz.,
the celebrated Vasudeva. Foremost in bowmanship,
Sura was equal to Kartavirya in battle. In Sura’s
race and equal unto Sura in energy was, born Sini,
O king! About this time, O king, occurred the
Swayamvara. of the high-souled Devaka’s daughter,
in which all the Kshatriyas were present. In
that self-choice, Sini vanquishing all the kings, quickly
took up on his car the princess Devaki for the sake
of Vasudeva. Beholding the princess Devaki on
Sini’s car, that bull among men, viz.,
the brave Somadatta of mighty energy could not brook
the sight. A battle, O king, ensued between the
two which lasted for half a day and was beautiful
and wonderful to behold. The battle that took
place between those two mighty men was a wrestling
encounter. That bull among men, viz., Somadatta,
was forcibly thrown down on the earth by Sini.
Uplifting his sword and seizing him by the hair, Sini
struck his foe with his foot, in the midst of many
thousands of kings who stood as spectators all around.
At last, from compassion, he let him off, saying, ‘Live!’
Reduced to that plight by Sini, Somadatta, O sire,